Mexico police shoot it out with 4 teen car thieves

A band of heavily armed teenage car thieves shot it out with officers during a high-speed chase Monday, before crashing their stolen car in the northern industrial city of Monterrey, police said.

Nuevo Leon state police said one young man escaped by running to a nearby university and stealing another car at gunpoint from a student. Two 13-year-old boys and a 15-year-old girl are in custody.

The youths were brandishing rifles at other motorists while driving the original stolen vehicle Monday, authorities said.

When police gave chase, the youths began shooting and officers fired back. The pursuit ended when the car smashed into a house.

Drug gangs fighting in Monterrey are known for recruiting children.

Also Monday, soldiers killed five suspected drug gang members in a gunbattle on the outskirts of Monterrey, authorities said.

The federal Attorney General's Office said the troops came under fire when they went to a ranch to investigate reports that criminals were torturing and burning victims to death in large cans at the site.